Sprinkling apparatus



Jan. 14, 1941. I COLES HAL 2,228,720

SPRINKLING APPARATUS Filed April 22, 1958 Patented Jan. 14, 1941 UNITEDSTATES PATENT OFFICE SPRINKLING APPARATUS Application April 22, 1938,Serial No. 203,565

11 Claims.

This invention relates to water distributing or sprinkling devices andmore particularly to sprinklers having controlled rotary movement.

One object of the invention is the provision of 5 a sprinkling devicehaving means for rotating the sprinkling member step by step, thedirection of rotation of the sprinkling member being automaticallycontrolled and reversed at predetermined positions, step by stepmovements of the sprinkling member being produced by an oscillatable armor the like which is oscillated to opposite sides of the stream of waterissuing from the sprinkling member by the force of the stream.

Another object of the invention is [the provision of a sprinkling devicehaving a sprinkling member which is operated step by step by a streamactuated oscillatable member which is adapted to strike different stopportions of an adjustable stop member that is automatically shift- 20 edto control the limits of angular movement of the sprinkling member.Another object of the invention is the provision of a sprinkling deviceincluding a sprinkling member having a distributing nozzle, thesprinkling member pivotally supporting an arm which carries a movablevane in front of the distributing nozzle, the construction being suchthat the arm is yieldingly held by one centering spring so that the vaneis struck by the water issuing from the nozzle and the arm swingsalternately to opposite sides of the stream and impacts against thesprinkling member at the end of its movement in one direction to impartstep by step ro-- and protected in an enclosing housing.

Another object of the invention is the provision of a sprinkling memberof the character mentioned having a bearing support provided with aneffective Water seal of such construction as to prevent any mud or otherimpurities that might be present in the water supply from entering thelubricated portion of the bearing that assumes the thrust load.

Other objects and advantages of the invention will be apparent from thefollowing description, the appended claims, and the accompanyingdrawing, in which:

Fig. 1 is a side elevation of a sprinkling device embodying the presentinvention a part being shown in section;

Fig. 2 is a rear elevation of the sprinkling device;

Fig. 3 is a top View looking in the direction of the axis of rotation ofthe oscillatable arm, with the spring and its housing removed, andshowing the parts adjusted for counterclockwise rotation of .thesprinkling member;

Fig. 4 is :a corresponding view with the parts adjusted for clockwiserotation of the sprinkling member;'

Fig. 5 is a bottom plan view showing the relationship between theoscillatable vane and the nozzle;

Fig. 6 is a detail view showing versing mechanism;

Fig. 7 is an enlarged sectional view showing the bearing support of thesprinkler;

Fig. 8 is a top view of the spring and the body portion of its housing;and

' Fig. 9 is a detail view of the spring and sleeve 20 unit.

Referring more particularly to the drawing by reference numerals, I0designates a sprinkling member, rotatably supported for movement about avertical axis on a stationary member lzl which forms a bearing supportfor the lower end of the sprinkling member. The support H, as shown, isprovided with screw threads I2 adapted to be engaged in the threads on awater pipe I3 of any suitable character. I

The body of the sprinkling member H] has a central passage I4 in freecommunication with the end of the water supply pipe I3, andcommunicating with a water distributing nozzle l5 which is directed in aradial vertical plane at at 1 suitable .u-pw-ard inclination so that thestream of water will be thrown a large distance over the ground.

The sprinkling member I!) is adapted to be moved step by step and at acomparatively slow rate of speed so that the stream of water issuingfrom the nozzle t5 will be moved slowly. over different portions of theground, and as herein shown the means by which the sprinkling mempart ofthe reher is moved is one operated by the water flowing through thesprinkling member and operated by the water after it issues from thenozzle 15. This'means comprises, a rigid arm I 8 pivotally supported onthe sprinkling member H] for movement about an axis that is preferablyinclined at a substantial angle to the horizontal andto the vertical.The arm I8 is integral with or rigidly connected to a shell or housingl9 and with an extension portion 20, and is provided with a bearingsleeve 21 rotatably supported on a fixed pivot pin 22 which extendsupwardly from the top of the body member. The shell l3 forms anenclosing housing for a spring which acts to yieldingly hold the arm H3in the position shown in Figs. 1 and 5.

Pivotally supported on the outer end of the arm I8 is a vane 25, which,in the normal position of the arm l8 assumed when the device is not inuse, is positioned in front of the nozzle l5. It is thus in the path ofthe stream of water issuing rom that nozzle. The vane is of triangularformation having diverging faces 21 and 28. 'A pin 29 extends through ahole in the vane and is re-' movably screwed in the arm i8, thusproviding av pivot support for the vane, which is arranged so thateither one or the other of the diverging surfaces 21, 28 may be struckby the stream issuing from the nozzle; Ears 29 project toward the end ofthe arm l8 and form limiting stops determining the angular movement ofthe vane on the arm.

With the vane 25 arranged as shownin Fig.5, the stream issuing from thenozzle |5 acts against the surface 28 and the force of the streamrapidly swings the arm I8 clockwise as shown in that view against theaction of the spring 60; and just before the vane is moved entirely outof the water stream the outer end of the surface 28 is pushed bythe'water so as to turn the vane clockwise on the arm It so that whenthe vane is returned again into the stream by the action of the spring,the force of the stream on the vane will swing the arm counterclockwiseand also turn the vane on the pin 29'. Thus each time the vane passesthe nozzle it is struck by the stream and propelled along in the samedirection it moves as it enters the stream, and the vane isautomatically tilted on the arm by the stream itself. Since thearrangement is symmetrical, the force of the stream on the arm is thesame regardless of the direction of rotation of the arm.

As the arm moves in one direction its inertia is gradually overcome bythe spring Bil and there is not any substantial reaction effect on thesprinkling member such as would move it on the support However when thearm moves in the opposite direction it impacts against a stop, providedon the sprinkling member, before the vane 25 moves very far from itsnormal position and before the spring 60 is effectivein stopping thearm. A series of impacts is thus produced on the sprinkling-member andthe latter is thus rotated step by step each of comparatively smallangular travel. The stop means is then automatically operated, so thatthe sprinkler will be movedin the opposite direction before a complete360 turn of the sprinkling member so that only a part of the circle iswatered.

The mechanism for accomplishing the change of direction of rotation ofthe sprinkling member as herein shown comprises a plurality of stopprojections 3| and 32 preferably provided integrally on the springhousing shell l9 not far from the axis of rotation of the sprinklingmember on the support II and symmetrically at opposite sides.Cooperating with one'or the other of the stop projections 3| and- 32 isa'stop member 33 preferably in the form of a plate member 34 bent over'at its upper end and bifurcated so as to provide the two 'stop portions35 and. 36 cooperating respectively with the stop projections 3| and 32of the oscillated arm. The plate 34 is pivotally supported by means of ascrew or bolt 31 which is threaded into projection 38 integrallyprovided on the sprinkling member ||l.' The bifurcated portion of thestop member 33 preferably straddles the lower end of the arm whichlimits its swinging movement, and when positioned as shown in Fig. 3 itwill be noted that the stop portion 35 is in the path of travel of theprojection 3| and will be impacted by that projection and thus limit thetravel of the arm in a counterclockwise direction after the arm hasmoved some little distance away from the stream issuing from nozzle I5.This impact produced by the stop 3| on the stop portion 35 serves tojolt the sprinkling member and move it through a small angle in acounterclockwise direction as viewed in Fig. 3. The springfill thenreturns the arm l8 which is carried along in a clockwise direction intothe position shown in dotted lines in Fig. 3 and in this position thestop portion 35 is arranged outwardly beyondthe path of travel of thestop 32 on the arm so that the spring acts to gradually stop the armwithout producing an impact or blow on the sprinkling member.

The stop 'member 33 may be moved into the position shown in Fig. 4 byadjustment of the plate 34 on'th'e pivot stud 31, and in this positionthe stop portion 36 is in the path of travel of the projection 32,limiting the movements of the arm in a'clockwise direction and producinga clockwise rotationof the sprinkling member. The arm under theseconditions may swing in a counterclockwise direction as far 'as may berequired until the spring Bil brings the arm to rest in the positionshown in full lines in Fig. 4.

The plate 34 is automatically controlled at predetermined positions ofthe sprinkling member on the support. As will be seen from Figs. 1; 2,and 6, the stud 31 pivotally carries a lever 4|] having a slot 4|.Extending through the slot is a bolt 42 which is threaded into the upperportion of the sprinkling member, the bolt also extending through a slot43 provided in the plate 34. A spacer disk 44 is provided on the screw42 with suitable clearance between the opposite sides of the diskand-plate 34 and lever 40, so that those parts can move freely on thestud 31. Projecting from plate 34-and lever are pins 45 and-46 connectedto a spring 41, the location of the pins 45 being such that whengthelever 49 is moved to one position or the other as limited by the slot4|, the spring 4'! acts to rapidly snap the plate 34 in the oppositedirection.

The lower end of the lever 48 is provided with an inwardly extendingfinger 43 adapted to be brought into contact with a plurality of pinsand 5| which project up from adjustable collars 52 and 5 3 that may beadjustably secured to the upper cylindrical surface of the support Setscrews 54 hold the collars in any'desired position on the support sothat the distance between the pin-s 59 and 5| can be changed in order tovary the angular travel through which the sprinkling member moves beforeits direction of rotation is reversed.

When the springling member is arranged for counter clockwise rotation asviewed in Figs. 1, 2,'and3, the nozzle will be turned slowly step bystep until the finger 49 is brought up against the pin 5|, correspondingto the position shown in Fig. 2. Further impacts of the arm on the stopportion 35 will then swing the lower end of the lever 40 over to theright, see Fig. 2, and this will snap the upper end of the plate 34 overso as to move the stop portions-35and 36 into the position shown in Fig.4. This wi-ll reverse the direction of rotation, and the sprinklingmember will then move clockwise -until the fi'nger firmly against thesepins.

49 is brought up against the pin 56, which will then return the parts totheir positions as shown in Figs. 2 and 3. As herein shown the stop pins50 and 5| are positioned to permit about one quarter of a turn of thesprinkling member before its direction of rotation is reversed but anydesired angular travel of the sprinkling member is permitted by changingthe relative settings of the collars 52 or 53. Continued operation ofthe sprinkling member in one direction can be efiected by removing thefinger 49 or moving it out far enough so that it will not engage thepins 50 and 5|. As shown the pin 49 is a screwthreaded into the lowerend of the lever 40 and held in position by lock nut 56.

The spring, which is concealed and protected within the shell 19, ispreferably a spiral spring wire wound on a sleeve 6| which hasprojecting therefrom two small pins 62 and 63 around which the ends 64and 65 of the spring are turned, with the spring wound under tension. Inthe normal position of the spring on the sleeve, as shown in Fig. 9, theends of the spring press The sleeve 6| is provided with a downwardlyprojecting pin 66, fixed to a lug 67 which is integral with the sleeve6|, the pin 66 projecting into a hole 68 provided at the bottom of theshell H! as shown in Fig. 1, thus definitely positioning the sleeveagainst relative turning but permitting the spring and sleeve unit to bereadily withdrawn from the housing IS. The two ends 64 and 65 of thespring project outwardly and are relatively displaced in a relativedirection so as to afford space between these ends for a rod 69 which isfixed to the cap or cover 10 of the shell l9. The cap H1 is held by anut 1| against the flanged portion 12 of the fixed pivot pin 22, thusholding the cap 70 and the rod 69 fixed with respect to the sprinklingmember It). In the normal position of the arm I 8 no spring pressure isexerted against the rod 69 by either end of the spring, thisrelationship of the parts being shown in Fig. 8, but as soon as the armturns in one direction or the other from its normal position it pusheseither the upper or the lower end of the spring, depending on thedirection of movement of the arm, so as to increase the spring tensionand apply the spring pressure directly to the rod 69 and thus yieldinglyurge the arm l8 back to its normal position. The spring has a number ofturns so that the arm can be swung through a wide angle in eitherdirection without subjecting it to positive or sudden restrainingforces, and thus permitting the gradual absorption of the inertia of themoving arm without imparting rotational movement-s to the sprinkler.

As will now be apparent, since the vane is symmetrical so as to produceequal turning forces in either direction of movement of the arm, andsince the stop portions and the stop projections provided respectivelyon the sprinkling member and on the arm are symmetrically arranged, thespeed of rotation of the sprinkling member will be the same regardlessof which way it is turnmg.

It will also be apparent that the means by which the successive impactsare produced on the sprinkling member is of such construction as to befully effective without any injurious results regardless of how muddythe water may be that is supplied to the sprinkler. To permit theoperation of the sprinkler with a muddy water supply, the supportinwhich the sprinkler member is rotatably mounted is so arranged as toprevent the entrance of the water in the bearing portions.

As shown in Fig. 7, the support ll comprises a shell poriton 13 formedof upper and lower sections 14 and 15 which are secured together byscrew threads. At the upper end of the shell 13 is .an inwardlyextending flange 16 which overlies an outwardly extending flange 1'!provided on a tube 18 the upper end of which is secured by threads tothe sprinkling member ID. The lower end of the tube 18 projects down toa point closely adjacent an inwardly extending flange 19 provided nearthe bottom of the shell 13. Between the upper side of the flange 11 andthe lower side of flange i6 is a packing disk 8| preferably of leather.packing ring 82, preferably of felt. Below the ring 82 is a metal washer83. Above flange I9 is a second felt ring 84 and a second metal washer85. The tube 18 and the casing 13 thus form a lubricant compartment 86containing a spring 81 Below the flange 11 is a;

which holds the felt washers 82 and 84 against the flanges l1 and 19respectively, the spring also acting to hold the flange 11 up againstthe leather disk 8|, the construction thus providing an eiTective waterseal which prevents the leakage of water through the bearing, the lowerfelt washerpreventing the entrance of any impurities into the lubricatedbearing portions, which are preferably supplied with grease by means ofgrease nipple 88.

While the form of apparatus herein described departing from the scope ofthe invention which is defined in the appended claims.

What is claimed is:

l. A sprinkling device comprising a support, a sprinkling memberrotatably mounted on said support and having a sprinkling nozzle, an armpivoted on said sprinkling member, said arm having means operated by thewater which flows throughsaid sprinkling member for maintaining anoscillating movement of said arm back and forth on its pivot, stop meanson said sprinkling member adapted to be struck by said arm when rotatingin one direction to rotate said sprinkling member step by step, andmeans for automatically operating said stop meanslat a predeterminedposition of said sprinkling member on said support to shift said stopmeans into such position that it will be struck by said arm when the armrotates in the opposite direction.

2. A sprinkling device comprising a support, a sprinkling memberrotatably mounted on said support and having a sprinkling nozzle, anoscillatable member mounted on said sprinkling member and having meansoperated by the water which flows through said sprinkling member formoving said oscillatable member alternatively towards opposite sides ofa normal position, stop means adjustably mounted on said sprinklingmember for movement to different positions in one of which it is struckby said oscillatable member when moving in one direction and in theother of which it is struck by said member when moving in the otherdirection, and means for automatically adjusting said stop means atpredetermined positions of said sprinkling member to control the limitsof angular movement of the sprinkling member.

3. A sprinkling device comprising a support, a sprinkling memberrotatably mounted on said support and havingasprinkling nozzle, an armoted on said arm in front of said nozzle and adapted to be operated bythe water flowing from said nozzle to move through the stream and swingsaid arm to opposite sides of said stream, means for returning said armto position said vane in front of said nozzle, stop means on saidsprinkling member adapted to be struck by said arm to rotate saidsprinkling member step by step, and means for shifting said stop meansso it will be struck by said arm to reverse the direction of rotation ofsaid sprinkling member.

4. A sprinkling device comprising a support, a sprinkling memberrotatably mounted on said support and having a sprinkling nozzle, an armpivoted on said sprinkling member and having means operated by the waterwhich flows through said sprinkling member for oscillating said arm inboth directions from a normal position, a stop member having a pluralityof stop portions, means for adjustably supporting said stop member onsaid sprinkling member to selectively position either one of said stopportions in the path of movement of said arm when said arm moves awayfrom a normal position, and means for automatically operating said stopmember at predetermined positions of said sprinkling member on saidsupport.

5. A sprinkling device comprising a support, a sprinkling memberrotatably mounted on said support and having a sprinkling nozzle, an armpivoted on said sprinkling member, a vane pivoted on said arm in frontof said nozzle and adapted to be operated by the water flowing from saidnozzle to swing said arm to opposite sides of said stream, means forreturning said arm to position said vane in front of said nozzle, a pairof projections symmetrically provided on said arm closely adjacent theaxis of rotation of said sprinkling member, a stop member having a pairof stop portions engaged by the projections on said arm and determiningthe direction of rotation of said sprinkling member under the impact ofsaid arm, and means for automatically shifting said stop member to moveone of said stop portions into the path of movement of one of the stopprojections of the arm and to move the other stop portion out of thepath of movement of the other stop projection of the arm.

6. A sprinkling device comprising a support, a sprinkling member mountedfor rotational movement on said support and having a distributingnozzle, an arm having a projection rigid therewith, means on said memberpivotally mounting said arm for oscillatory movement, a vane pivoted onsaid arm actuated by the stream of water issuing from said nozzle forswinging said arm alternately towards opposite sides of said stream, acoil spring, a casing on said arm enclosing said spring and having aportion engaging oppositeends of said spring and normally urging saidarm to position said vane in front of said nozzle, and means on saidmember engaged by said arm projection at a predetermined position ofsaid arm at one side of said stream for imparting step by step movementto said member on said support.

'7. A sprinkling device comprising a support, a sprinkling membermounted for rotational movement on said support and having adistributing nozzle, an arm pivotally mounted on said sprinkling memberfor oscillatory movement, means on said arm actuated by the stream ofwater issuing from said nozzle for swinging said arm alternately towardsopposite sides of said stream, means on said sprinkling member impactedby said arm and pivoted on said sprinkling member, a vane pivlimitingthe swinging of said arm at one side of said stream, a spring housing onsaid sprinkling device and a tensioned spring and sleeve assembly insaid housing and removable as a tensioned spring unit from said housing,said spring and sleeve having portions respectively engageable with saidsprinkling member and with said housing and yieldingly holding said armto position said stream actuated means in said stream.

8. A sprinkling device comprising a support, a sprinkling member mountedfor rotational movement on said support and having a distributingnozzle, an arm pivotally mounted on said sprinkling member foroscillatory movement, means on said arm actuated by the stream of waterissuing from said nozzle for swinging said arm alternately towardsopposite sides of said stream, means on said sprinkling member impactedby said arm and limiting the swinging of said arm at one side of saidstream, a spring housing carried by said arm, a spring support removablyheld in said housing, a spring on said spring support and means fixed tosaid sprinkling member projecting in said housing and engag-eable withopposite ends of said spring for yieldingly holding said arm to positionsaid stream actuated means in said stream.

9. A sprinkling device comprising a support, a sprinkling member mountedfor rotational movement on said support and having a distributingnozzle, a rigid arm pivotally mounted on said member for oscillatorymovement thereon, a vane supported on said arm and actuated by thestream of water issuing from said nozzle for swinging said armalternately towards opposite sides of said stream, spring means normallyurging said arm into a normal position in which the vane is in front ofthe nozzle, said spring means being operably connected to the arm andthe sprinkling member to provide equal restoring moments on the arm forany particular degree of displacement from the normal position of thearm regardless of the direction of displacement, said sprinkling memberhaving a portion engaged by said arm at a predetermined position of saidarm when said vane is removed from the stream at one side theerof forimparting step-by-step movement to said member on said support, andmeans operable to reverse the direction of rotation of the sprinklingmember when said sprinkling member reaches a predetermined positioningon said support.

10. A sprinkling device comprising a support, a sprinkling membermounted for rotational movement on said support and having adistributing nozzle, a rigid arm pivotally mounted on said member foroscillatory movement thereon, a vane supported on said arm and actuatedby the stream of water issuing from said nozzle for swinging said armalternately towards opposite sides of said" stream so'that the vanemoves through and past the stream from each side to the other, a coilspring normally urging said arm to yieldingly position said vane infront of said nozzle, said spring having operable connections at itsends to both the arm and the sprinkling member and held thereby undersubstantial normal tension when the arm is in its normal position andproviding equal restoring forces on the arm for any particular degree ofdisplacement from the normal position of the arm regardless of thedirection of displacement, said sprinkling member having a portionengaged by said arm at a pretermined position of said arm when said vaneis removed from the stream at one side thereof for impartingstep-by-step movement to said member on said support. A

11. A sprinkling device comprising a support, a sprinkling membermounted for rotational movement on said support and having adistributing nozzle, a rigid arm pivotally mounted on said member foroscillatory movement thereon, a vane supported on said arm and actuatedby the stream of water issuing from said nozzle for swinging said armalternately towards opposite sides of said stream so that the vane movesthrough and past the stream from each side to the other, spring meansnormally urging said arm to yieldingly position said vane in front ofsaid nozzle, said spring means having an operable engagement at one endthereof to both the arm and the sprinkling memher and having an operableengagement at the other end thereof to both the arm and the sprinklingmember and under substantial normal tension when the arm is in itsnormal position and providing equal restoring forces on the arm for anyparticular degree of displacement from the normal position of the armregardless of the direction of displacement, said sprinkling memberhaving a portion engaged by said arm at a predetermined position of saidarm when said vane is removed from the stream at one side thereof forimparting step-by-step movement to said member on said support.

. WALTER I-I. C'OLES.

BERT J. NELSON. BERT JENNINGS.

